Today I was involved in a 5k run for Thon, an organization raising money for pediatric cancer. I have never ever run that far! It was hard, but I kept going and was surprised when it ended! I was like this is it??? I finished in thirty six minutes! I was so proud of myself.
You know what I realized though. I love running- reaching the end of it, feeling so accomplished. And while running I realized I couldn't have done this if I didn't eat. I need to eat to keep running. I need to eat to do everything! I want to keep running, to exercise, and to be able to do daily things. The whole key is eating!
I have a new outlook on life. I am going to try it this week. I am going to try to just eat food- follow my meal plan for the most part :) and exercise. Just running, maybe a few outside off the treadmill for once. It was such a fantastic experience! And eat when I am hungry. Eat when my body needs it. I can do this! I am sore, but because I have been eating well, my body will heal. I know this now :)
Yay! Congratulations on the run. I'm a runner too so I completely understand the feelings of accomplishment at the end. In the past when I was doing best with eating it was while I was running regularly. Its just impossible to go for long runs without proper fuel before and after. Since I started recovery I haven't run much because its too hard to separate the calorie count from the benefits of running. When I was at my smallest in my ED I could not finish a 7 mile run (when it was supposed to be a 10 mile training run for a half marathon that was coming up). Now I find that 2-3 miles is just enough to be a stress release while not wearing me out for the day.
The best part about running for me now is connecting with nature. Just today I took a moment to feel the sunshine and wind and it felt so amazing! Good luck with it, be patient and enjoy it as a way to take care of your body!
allee --ok i am really happy for you --but i must say---hmmm be careful with all the running, hon. you have been restricitng lately and your body needs time to HEAL. we with EDs have a tendency to push oursleves and over do it--so i just say BE CAREFUL. and make sure you eat enough--and ENOUGH or you might pass out...
give yourself sometime to heal ---maybe go lightly on the work outs....and then allee when you heal --- your body --then you can run and do anything you want( within moderation)
i ate very well today and did great all week --including fear foods! my moms freind gave me a weight loss book for my birthday(IMAGINE_---giving someone with ED a weight loss book ! the shock!) so now i have a whole new --brand new list of fear fooods..ughhhh!
what kind of person does that? anyway --my point being is that i ate those fear foods mentioned in the book and did it --almost in spite of that book.... so ---i did well. i ate every 3 hours---and put health first.
i am so happy to hear you are doing well---so glad.
Maureen, dont worry! I have been doing so well! And I am eating great. I am eating every few hours, not counting, eating what I want and need. And the running was amazing! I did it. And I had breakfast before and gatorade (for electrolites) before I ran and lots of water. And after, my mom visited and took me out for lunch. I got this yummy chicken burger and ate the whole thing! I am doing really well.
But you know what? The second time I recovered I used exercise as my recovery plan for myself. For me working out everyday (or 5 days of week) helped me heal. I actually got to my heaviest weight then and felt great about my body.
This is my plan. I know so many other people with eating disorders, this probably wouldn't work because they would take the exercise to extreme, but I know this has worked for me before. And I believe it will really help with my self image.
I hope all of you are doing well! Thinking of you.
allee
I hear you! :) I am decidedly not a runner, but wish I was. ;0) Lol. I ran a couple of 5Ks last year, and the feeling of accomplishment was HUGE. :) I was tired. And slow. I wasn't eating as well as I am today. You're right; food is key to everything we do. :)
Sooooooooooo excited to hear this!!!! It is awesome that you have found something that makes you happy and that you truly know that you can't continue without food. Try hard to stick with your meal plan so you can improve your time and run even faster! Good luck and keep us posted on how the rest of the races go!
Though I am not a runner, I have gotten better at it and it truly makes me happy. And it helps me eat normal and be happy! But I have to commit. My big goal for the end of the year would be to be able to run 5 miles. HA! I thought 5k would be impossible. But today, I think anything is possible if you put your mind to it! Like beating ED! We can do this :)
Thats great Allee!
I'm so glad you are having a better week and doing well. As long as you give your body what it needs and don't exercise too much that is a great thing. Keep up the good work Allee! Nicole
well, great then, allee just make sure you get enough in. but im proud of you, i am... very very happy.... this is great..really
just an example --ok yesterday i thought i ate enough--i mean i really did think i ate enough! and then i worked out--and holy goodness...i tried to go to bed---and i woke up in the middle of the night and ate! i was like what is wrong? i thought for sure i ate enough--i mean really...i ended up being so hungry after the work out...so i must remember to absolutely know i am eating enough or my body will wake up( in the middle of the night) and eat! LOL... i really do have to start tracking food down again...
my point being---just be careful. i am NOT in any any means saying you are not, just a reminder to us all... that is it....i hope i anint nagging or anything( LOL) i just think it is important for all of us to remember... that those with EDs need time to heal our bodies... but ---im very very happy for you! i am
i am very happy for you and pray for your continued success!!! this is great! really.....
Another way I do make sure that I ate enough the day is rule one I must must must eat healthy all day or I cannot work out. Rule two is that you should always have a post work out snack (if its late at night). If its in the middle of the day though I will have a meal after. And I will eat when I am hungry, even if I went past my meal plan, because its my body telling me you need food.
very good --good good allee!!!! hahaha! great ideas...all of them
and wow--you are right allee--i never work out late --i usually do it in the mornings ---or so---but i did learn one thing---you must must eat after a work out even though you think you had enough... you are right allee---thanks...